Improvement in saddle-stirrups



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN FIGHTER, OF NEVARK, NEW JERSEY.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 43,300, dated June 28,1864.

To all whom it may concern Beit known that I, J oHN FIGHTER, of Newark,in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Saddle-Stirrups; and I do hereby declare` that'thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, referencebeing had to `the accompanying drawings, making a part of thisspecicatiomin which- Figure 1 is a back view of my invention, shownadapted for military use; Fig. 2, a vertical section-of Fig. 1, taken inthe line .r fr, Fig. l Fig. 3, a back view of the same, shown adapted asa Mexican stirrup; Fig. 4, a side view of the same, shown adapted as anordinary stirrup for general use; Fig. 5, a hori- Zonta] section of Fig.2, taken in the line y y.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts in theseveral gures.

This invention consists in constructing the stirrup in such a mannerthat it may with the greatest facility be converted into a military,Mexican, or ordinary stirrup, as required, and still possess, whenadjusted in any one of the forms specified, advantages over the severalkinds of stirrups especially constructed for those several purposes.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct myinvention, I will proceed to describe it.

A represents the stirrup proper, which is designed to be of iron orwood, the former being the preferable material, and covered withleather. The ends of the stirrup extend up- Ward at right angles withthe tread or main portion, asshown at a a, and at the under side of thestirrup there is a loop, b, extending its whole length.

B is the stirrup-strap, which is attached to the saddle in the usualway. This stirrupstrap passes through the loop b and extends upward ateach side of the stirrup, as shown clearly in Figs. I, 3, and 4.

The invention thus far forms an ordinary stirrup for general use, and isdesigned to supersede the common metal stirrup now manufactured. Itpossesses several advantages over the metal stirrup-to-wit, the leatherstirrup is a good foot-hold, the boot or shoe will not slip -in it, asis the case with the metal stirrup. It is more convenient in consequenceof the straps not being in a twisted state when the foot is in thestirrup. The rider canalso ride with greater ease and comfort.

C represents a leather hood, which is designed to cover the stirrup, asshown in Figs. l, 2, and 3. This hood is cut in the proper form, and issecured to the upright ends a a of the stirrup by screws c, as shownclearly in Figs. 1 and 3. The strap B is passed through loops d at theinner side of the hood. If desired, a plate may be attached to the frontside of t-he stirrup to form a continuous footpiece to the hood.

The combined stirrup and hood forms a Mexican stirrup, commonly socalled, and for military or hunting use I attach a legging, D, whichcovers vthe front part of the leg. This legging is hollowed out at itsfront lower end, so that it may it snugly over the hood O, and it issecured to the top of the hood by a screw, e, and to the upright ends aa of the stirrup by screwsf. The strap B passes through the op of thehood and through a loop., g, at the nner side of the legging, and thenthrough a hole, h, in the side of the legging nearest the horse. (SeeFigs. l and 2.) The upper part of the legging may be provided with astrap, ax, to pass around the leg.

It will be seen from the above description that the device may bechanged from one form of stirrup to the other with the greatestfacility.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

A saddle-stirrup combined with a hood and legging, inthe mannersubstantially as herein shown and described, so that the stirrup may beused separately as an ordinary riding-stirrup, or converted into amilitary and Mexican stirrup, as set forth.

JOHN FIGHTER. Witnesses:

EDWIN VAN ANTWEHP, JONATHAN D. FREEMAN.

